Page 97 of Crossed Wires: The Complete Series

She shook her head. “There’s something wrong with New York.”

Dylan’s gut clenched. “What’s that?”

“You’re not in it.”

The softly spoken statement made his stomach twist. His groin grew tight. His heart beat harder.

He shook his head then rubbed his hands over his face. Bristles scratched at his palms, and he realized he hadn’t shaved since returning to Australia almost a week ago. In fact, ever since he’d arrived home he’d done little except work. Mustering the south herd, preparing them for auction, negotiating stud fees with three interstate station owners and introducing the calf born while he was away—named Prince, of all things—back into the north herd with its mother.

“Bloody hell, Monet. I can’t do this.”

“Do what?”

Her voice was as strained as he felt. Her sunglasses still hid her eyes.

“This. I’ve spent the last seven days trying like fuck to get over you. I’ve worked my arse off, did more since I returned home than I did in the fortnight before I left. The hired hands are about to kill me and I think I’ve scared off more than one jackaroo with how hard I’ve been working them. And none of it has helped. Every bloody minute of every bloody day I’ve thought of you. Ached for you.”

“Dylan,” she began, stepping toward him. He shook his head again, raising his hand to stop her. Behind him, he heard distant voices. Annie and her father, judging by the accents involved. It only highlighted just how much he’d messed everything up. Three American accents, all angry and hurt because of him.

He rubbed his face again and let out a shaky breath. “I get it now,” he said, returning his gaze to Monet’s face. “I get it. Why I feel so fucking bad when I should feel so alive.”

Monet stood motionless. “Why?”

“Because ever since I walked away from you, I’ve been pretending that somehow we’d actually work. That someday I’d magically wake up and not be a stockman anymore. I’d fly back to you in New York and we’d spend the rest of our lives together, laughing about the time I was the Down Under Wonder as I earn millions playing the stock market, or investing in who the fuck knows what. And now I know, standing here in front of you, unshaven, my clothes covered in dust, sweat already making me stink after spending two hours dealing with an aggressive bull who didn’t want to be loaded into a truck…I know I can’t pretend anymore. You’re New York, and I’m the Outback. That’s the way it is.”

For a long moment, she didn’t move. Didn’t say a word. He could feel her stare on him through the darkness of her lenses, but as before, her glasses hid so much of her face he had no idea what she was thinking. And then, just when he thought he couldn’t take the silence anymore, she raised her hand and removed her sunglasses, and his heart smashed into his throat.

Fuck. He was never meant to love someone so gorgeous. There was no way he’d ever survive it.

“Hey, Dylan!” Hunter’s shout jerked his stare to his brother. “You two want a ride back to the house?”

Dylan looked at the three people standing next to his ute. Annie was holding her father’s arm, the smile on her face telling Dylan whatever had passed between her and Joseph Prince had ended well. He was happy for her. He truly was. If only he could find his own happiness.

He shook his head. “No. We’ll walk back.”

There were things that needed to be said.

Hunter gave him a nod, his expression uncertain.

Dylan wanted to laugh. It seemed both Sullivan boys had lost their hearts to an American woman. Who would have thought it?

Giving Mutt a sharp whistle, he watched his dog jump from the ute’s tray and streak across the airstrip, tongue-lolling doggy grin in place. He reached down, scratching the dog around his ears, Mutt’s liquid-brown eyes gazing up at him with absolute love. Dylan let out a soft snort. The unconditional love of a dog. If only that kind of love existed in the human world.

“Dylan?”

He straightened, his dimple flashing in his cheek. “You got a hat in that fancy jet?”

She shook her head.

“Here you go.” He removed his and placed it on her head. “You’ll fry like an egg if you don’t cover up.”

“I need to tell you something.”

“Not yet, please? Let’s just pretend for a minute we’re old mates, catching up. Besides, I wanna show you Farpoint first. Well, a small part of it at least. Let you see where I come from before you fly back.”

She parted her lips as if to argue but shut them again, reaching up and adjusting his hat on her head.

“Sorry it’s a bit sweaty.”